Trillanes seeks speedy passage of anti-epal bill

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has called for the immediate approval of the bill prohibiting credit grabbing by politicians on public works projects.

Trillanes, sponsor of Senate Bill 3310 as chairman of the committee on civil service and government reorganization, said that the measure is intended to eradicate the “prevalent unethical practice among our public officials who affix their names and/or pictures to announcement of projects which were funded or facilitated through their office, despite... these projects (being) funded (by) taxpayers’ money.”

He said the practice promotes corruption among officials and projects a wrong sense of accomplishment among the constituency.

Senate Bill 3310 was filed in substitution of the bills filed by Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Francis Escudero for the same purpose.

Under the bill, images, logos, initials and names of public officials cannot be affixed on any signage announcing proposed, ongoing or completed public works projects.

Similarly, installing any signage announcing the maintenance, rehabilitation and construction of public works projects with credit given to a public official would also be prohibited.

According to Santiago, who dubbed her proposed legislation as the “anti-epal” bill, giving credit to individual public officials fosters and promotes a culture of political patronage and corruption.

She said it also diminishes the importance that the public needs to place on supporting government officials, not because of their popularity, but because of their essential role in policy determination both in the local and national levels.